Hours of service waivers for propane haulers extended to Dakotas, Florida

Propane haulers in North Dakota, South Dakota and Florida now are temporarily exempt from federal hours of service regulations, per two declarations issued this week by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, who has already issued exemptions for propane haulers in about two-thirds of the U.S.

The exemptions come as additions to regional waivers already issued for the Midwest, the East and the South, issued due to regional propane shortages caused by an uptick in demand due to the “polar vortex” caused colder-than-average temperatures and kinks in distribution and storage.

The country’s propane supply is “more than adequate,” says the National Propane Gas Association, who requested the waivers for propane haulers, but certain events in recent months have combined to cause issues with getting the home heating fuel to consumers.